Machine for packing explosives



Mmh 23 1926.

G. JOHNSON MACHINE FOR PACKING EXPLOSIVES 5 Sheets-Sheet l NNN ,....L NEn o mm o i QE @N AMT- l www.

u u u Ey 5g/wfg! March Z3 1926. 1,578,036

G. JOHNSON MACHINE FOR PACKING EXPLOSIVES Filed Sept. r- 5 Sheets-SheetE March 23 1926.

G. JOHNSON MACHINE FOR PACKING EXPLOSIVES 5 Sheets-Sheet Filed Sept CSJ@Si March 23 1926.

5 'sheets-sheet 5 Filed Sept. g

Patented Mar. 23, 1926.

UNITED STATESg GUSTAJ.=` JOHNSON, OF BENSON, ARIZONA.

MACHINE FOR PACKING EXPLOSIVES.

Application led September 8, 1925. Serial No. 54,981.

T0 all whom it may concer/n.'

Be it known that I, GUsrAr JOHNSON, (on or about November 12th, 1907, hefiled his first papers declaring his intention of becoming a naturalizedcitizen of the United States of America), a citizen of the Republic ofFinland, residing at Benson, in the county of Cochise and State ofArizona, have invented new and useful Improvements in Machines forPacking Explosives, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to high explosives, more particularly to amachine for.. packing explosives.

In manufacturing, high explosives are generally divisible into twoclasses. In one class the material is somewhat granular and dry, such asordinary dynamite composed of nitro-glycerine and sometimes combinedwith another explosive element, for instance, ammonium nitrate which isadded to an absorbent. The other class is generally referred to asgelatine and is composed of nitro-glycerine which is combined with thesame absorbents, roughly as dynamite, but combined with nitrate ofcellulose which forms a jelly with the nitro-glycerine and converts thefinished mixture into a plastic mass. The latter mixture or compositionabove referred to is either formed or cast in sticks or packed incartridges. Heretofore machines of small capacity have been employed forforming sticks or packing cartridges for safety purposes in order toavoid the concurrent. explosion dangers.

The object of this invention is to provide a machine capable of safelyand effectively packing cartridges with high explosives of gelatine formin large quantities.

The object is accomplished by the disclosure of the inventionhereinafter set forth by the following description of the accompanyingdrawings, illustrating a practical embodiment of the invention, inwhich:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of the machine for packing explosives,

Fig. 2 is a horizontal section taken on the line 2 2 of Fig. 1,

Fig. 3 is a verticall section aken on the line 3T3 of Fig. 2,

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary end elevation.,4

looking in the direction indicated by the arrow 4 in Figs. 1 and 2, 1

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary perspective View showing a portion of theoperating mechanism,

'Fig 6. is a Vertical section taken on the same line as Fig. 3, showingthe packing machine as it appears while filling the cartridOfes.

Fig. 7 is a View analogous to Fig. 6, showing a step in the operation offilling the cartridges,

Fig. 8 is a perspective view of a holder or shuttle for empty shells orcartridges to be filled with the explosive compound,

Fig. 9 is a top plan view of an apparatus for feeding empty shells orcartridges into the shuttle shown in Fig. 8,

Fig. 10 is a vertical section taken through the cartridge feedingapparatus taken on the line 10-10 of Fig. 9, and

Fig. 11 is a fragmentary erspective View of a portion of the cartri gefeeding ap'- paratus.

Referring by numerals to the accompanying drawings, -particularly toFigs. 8 to 1l inc., 1() generally designates a shuttle or cartridgeholder and consists of a central portion 11 secured to a base 12 uponwhich is hinged a pair of oppositely disposed plates or lids 13 and 14respectively. The central portion 11 is provided with a plurality ofsemi-circular channels 15 formed in an upper wall 16 and a plurality ofchannels 1T formed in a lower wall 18. A plurality of channels 19 inregister with the channels 15 are formed in the plate 13, and in a likemanner a plurality of channels 2O are formed in the plate 14 whichregister with the channels 17. The channels 15 and 17 are adapted toreceive empty cartridges from a feeding apparatus` and the plates 13 and14 are adapted to close upon the cartridges and hold them in placetherein leaving one end of the cartridges projecting therefrom.

The shuttle or cartridge holder is placed on an inclined Wall 21 of acartridge feeding apparatus, generally designated at 22, with one of theplates open, for instance plate 13, as clearly shown in Fig. 10. Thecartridge feeding apparatus 22 consists of a magazine 23 having aplurality of partitions 24 between front and rear walls 25 and 26respectively, which form compartments 27 corresponding in number to thechannels formed in the shuttle 10. A plunger 28 is mounted in the lowerend or bottom of each compartment 27. A groove 29 is formed in the upperface of the outer end portion of each plunger and is adapted to receivea cartridge or empty shell C. Theplungcrs 28 are adapted to feed theshells from the magazine 23 into the shuttle 10 and are operated by' acrank shaft, generally designated at 30, having a throw or crank pin 3l,upon which is mounted a plurality of connecting'rods 32 which areconnected to each of the ual pins 33.

plungers 28 by individ- The crank shaft 30 is mounted in a pair ofbearings 34 in alignment carried by frames 35, and a gear 36 is mountedon each end thereof which meshes with pinions 37 on a counter shaft 38mounted in bearings 39 carriedby the frames 35, and a pulley 38a ismounted on one end of the counter shaft 38. As the crank shaft 30rotates, the

plungers 28 will be retracted into the position indicated by dottedlines, shown in Fig. 10, which will allow the cartridges in the 40 whichwas opened during the forwardl movement of the plungers 28 and preventAthe cartridges from being returned to the magazine and carry them offthe ends of the plunger-s. The cartridges will then drop onto aninclined plate 41 which will direct them into the grooves 15 of theshuttle 10. The plate 13 is then closed and the position of the shuttlereversed and the lid 14 opened, so that the channels 17 may in a likemanner be filled with the cartridges. The lid 14 is then closed and theshuttle removed from the cartridge feeding mechanism and anothershut-tlc placed therein, which is again filled with cartridges, aspreviously described. l

The plates 13 and 14 are clamped together after the shuttle has beenfilled with cartridges and is then placed on a carriage 42 which isprovided with grooved rollers 43 engaging a pair of tracks 44 which aresecured to a bed plate 45 of a shall or'cartridge filling apparatus,generally designated at F, shown in Figs. 1 to 7 inc.

The cartridge filling mechanism F consists of a horizontal frame 46, oneend of which is' supported on uprights 47 mounted on a base 48, lwhilethe forward end is supported on uprights 49 also resting on the base 48.The bed plate 45 constitutes part of the frame 46 and is adapted tosupport a chamber 50 which is substantially rectangular in cross sectionwith the bottom of its wide portion resting on the bed plate 45. A neck50a' extends upwardly from the cham- -ber 50 and is adapted to support afunnel or hopper 51. A mixer, generally desighas a fiange 54, upon whichis secured a plate 55 having a plurality of openings 56 formed therein,in which are mounted a plurality of tubes 57 which are in alignment \andcorresponding 4in number to the cartridges in the shuttle 10. Theopenings 56 have flared ends 58 and the tubes 57 have correspondinglyflared ends. The chamber 50 is provided with a lining of rubber or otherresilient material 59 to reduce friction, and a plunger 60, preferablyformed of brass, is mounted therein and engages the lining 59. Acylinder 61 is mounted on the rear end of the frame 46, and a piston 62is mounted therein and is provided with a rod 63 which is connected to across head 64 by a wedge and key connection 65. The plunger 60 isconnected to the crossY head 64 bya pin 66 extending throughsemicircular sockets formed in the cross head, and a member 67 issecured to the end of the plunger 60. The pin is held in place by a pairof brackets 68, thus providing for a slight-angular play in the crosshead and plunger. The cross head has a pair of oppositely disposed lugs69 having openings 71 formed therein into which extend parallel crosshead guide bars 72 mounted in brackets T3-secured to the frame 46. Apair of angle irons 74 are secured to the bed plate 45 of the frame 46directly below the tracks 44. 44 are supported by standards 75, theupper ends of which have ends 76 extending through openings 77 formed inthe tracks, and the lower ends thereof being secured to the angle irons.

A four-way valve 78 is mounted dimetly below the cylinde-r 61 and pipes7 9 and 80 are connected thereto and enter ports 81 and 82 respectivelyat each end of the cylinder 61. A fluid pressure supply pipe 83 isconnected to the top, and an exhaust pipe 84 is connected to the bottomof the valve 78. A controlling device 85 is mounted directly below thechamber 50 and consists of a cylinder 86 in which is slidably mounted apiston 87 secured to a rod 88. A rotary valve 89 is mounted directlyabove the cylinder 86,l and oppositely disposed branch pipes 90 and 91extend from the valve and enter openings formed in opposite ends of thecylinder 86. A fluid pressure pipe 92 leading from a source ofcompressed air is ronnected to the top, and an exhaust pipe 93 isconnected to the bottom of the valve 89. 'lhc valve 89 may be ofconventional construction and is provided with oppositely dis- The.outer ends of the tracks.

posed parts v94 and 95 formed in the valve proper within the valvehousing 96. The rod 88 is connected to the end of a bar 97 which isslidable between pairs of rollers 98 mounted in frames 99 secured to thebase 48. A pin 100 is secured to the bar 97 and extends through a slot101 of a lever 102 which is connected to the movable member of the valve78. ,s

A rod 103 is slidably mounted in bearings 104 secured to the under sideof the frame 46 and has a clevis 105 formed on one end which engages anactuating lever 106 connected to the valve 89 by means of a pin 107extending through the clevis and a slot 108 formed in the lever 106. Apair of bearings 109 are secured to the under side ofthe shuttlecarriage 42 and are adapted to receive a sha-ft 110 upon which ismounted a. pair of tappets 111 and 112. A cam 113 having an inclinedface 114 is formed on the lower end of the tappet 111 and an arm 115 isformed on a collar 116 secured to the rod 103 for a purpose to be laterexplained.

Referring to Fig. 4, a pair of tlat bars 117 are, pivotally connected tothe it'ront wall 118 o1 the shuttle carriage 42 by pins or othersuitable means indicated at 119. The outer ends of the bars 117 engageelongated notches 12() formed in the under side of' the tracks 44, andare adapted to engage a shoulder 121 for limiting the outward movementof the shuttle carriage, hereinafter mole fully described. A cam 122 ismounted on the shaft 110 and has a fiat face 123 upon which the innerends of the bars 117 normally rest, and a handle 124 is secured to theouter end of the shaft 110. A safety lever 125 is pivotally mounted uponthe frame 46 by a pin or other suitable means indicated at 126. Thelower end of the lever 125 has an inwardly turned end 127 engaging thelever 102. A rod 128 is connected to the opposite end ot' the lever 125and is also connected to a lever 129 pivotally mounted, as indicated at130, to the forward end of the frame 46, and a retractile coil spring131 is connected to the upper end of the lever 125 and to a lixed pointon the frame 46. A

A cartridge crimping mechanism, generally designated at M, is mounted onuprights 132 adjacent and secured to the hopper 51 by brackets 133, 4andconsists of a flanged plate 134, which is slidable between the uprights132 and is connected to links 135 pivoted on the ends of arms 136mount'.`

ed on a shaft 137 carried by bearings 140 secured to rigid-plates142connected to the upper ends of the uprights 132. An arm 143 is alsoconnected to the shaft 1,37 and has a roller 1-44 on its outer endengaging the upper face 145 of an. arm 146 pivotally mounted on a pin147 carried by the upper end of the bracket 133. The outer end of thearm 146 engages a, cross head 148 from which extends a plurality oftubes 149 having flared ends 150 of slightly larger diameter than theends of the shells or cartridges C. The tubes 149 pass through openings151 formed in a guide block 152 and are normally held with the flaredends engaging the under side of the block 152 by a plurality ofexpansion coil springs 153 mounted between the top of the block and theunderside of the cross head 148. An arm 154 is keyed to the shaft 137and is adapted to receive a clevis 155 fori'ned on one end of a link orrod 156, the opposite end of which is connected to a crank 157 on ashaft 158 mounted in bearings 159 resting on cross members 160 securedto the ends of the uprights 47. A pulley 161 is mounted on the shaft 158and a second pulley 162 is also mounted on the sha-ft 158 and is adaptedto transmit power to a counter shaft 163 by a belt 164 engaging thepulley 162 and a pulley 165 mounted on the shaft 163. The shaft 158 isrotated by a belt 166 engaging the pulley 161 and leading from anydesirable source of power, such as an electric motor. The shaft 163 ismounted in bearings 167 secured to cross members 168 carried by theuprights 47. A pulley 169 is mounted on the shaft 163 and is adapted totransmit rotary motion to the mixer 52 by means of a belt 170 extendingover the pulley 169 and a pulley 171 secured to the outer end of themixer shaft 52,

The operation of the cartridge filling mechanism is as follows: Ashuttle, which has been filled with empty cartridges or shells, isplaced on the shuttle Carriage 42 with the carriage in retractedposition, as shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3, at which time the plunger 60 isin its most rearward position, and the valves 78 and 85 being closed orin neutral position, assuming that the machine has been idle. Theshuttle carriage is then manually pushed forwardly into the positionshown in Fig. 6, which causes the tubes 57 to extend into the emptycartridges C in the shuttle 10, or, in other words, the empty shellswill pass over the ends of the tubes 57. As the shuttle carriage ispushed forwardly, the inclined face 114 of the cam 113 formed on thetappet 111 will engage the arm 115 and automatically rock the shaft 110Ethus allowingthe shuttle carriage 42 to pass the arm 115. However, thetappet 112 will contact with the arm 115 and move the rod 103, which .in.turn will actuate the lever 106 and bring the port 95 in the valve bodyin register with the compressed air in the pipe 92, thereby forming apassage of air into the rear end of the cylinder 86 through the pipe 91and cause the rod 88:A to more forwardly in the ydirection indicated bythe ar-V row 172, the movement of which will actuate thelever 102, whichwill operate the valve 78 and allow compressed air to pass successivelythrough the pipe 83 and the valve 78, thence through the pipe 79 and theport 81 into the rear end of the cylinder 61 and cause the piston 62 tomove forwardly in the direction Aindicated by the arrow 173, themovement of which will obviously move -the cross head and plunger in thesame direction. As the plunger moves forwardly and reaches a point pastthe neck 502v of the chamber 50, the gelatine which is entrapped in theforward end 50b thereof will be carried into the empty cartridgesthrough the tubes 57. The reaction of the gelatlne in filling thecartridges will simultaneously move the shuttle carriage 42 forwardly,and finally into the position indicated in Fig. 7, and when in thisposition the bars 117 will be engaging the shoulder 121 of the notch 120formed in the tracks 44, thus limiting further movement of the carriagein this direction, and thus cause the gelatine to be firmly packed inthe cartridges, it being noted that when in the position above referredto, the ends of the tubes 57 are still within the outer ends of thecartridgesv C. As the shuttle carriage moves forwardly, as abovereferred to, the tappet 111 engages the arm 115 before the shuttlecarriage has reached its limit of movement, hence when the tappet 111engages the arm 115,` it will move the rod 103 forwardly, and actuatethe lever 106 which will operate the valve 85 and reverse the movementof the ro'd 86 by admitting'air through the valve 85 and the pipe 90 tothe forward end of the cylinder 86, which will move the rod 88rearwardly` which in turn will actuate the lever 102 and reverse thevalve 78, thereby allowing air to enter the forward end of the cylinder61 which will obviously cause a retraction of the plunger 60. As theplunger 60 is retracted, a slight suction will be created in the tubes57, thus preventing any more gelatine from passing out therefrom. Thevalves 78 and 85 and the levers 102 and 106 remain in their respectivepositions until the operation above described is repeated.

'lhe shuttle carriage 42 is then entirely retracted from the tubes 57and is accomplished by manually turning the handle 124 into the dottedline position indicated in Fig. 4, which will cause the outer ends ofthe bars 117 to be moved -downwardly and out of register with theshoulders 121 and notches 12,0 by means of the cam 122. The handle 124is then temporarily held in this position until the shuttle carriage hasbeen moved back into any ldesired distance, such as in the positionshown in Fig. 1.

The shuttle is then removed from the earriage and turned to a verticalposition with the open end of the cartridges pointing upwardly, and isthen placed in this position on the fianged plate 134 of the crimpingmechanism M, which is then operated by throwing or shifting a clutch.174 on the shaft 158 which Vis adapted to cause one complete revolutionof the crank 161, which in turn will rock the shaft 137 by means of thelink 156. v

The action of the crimping mechanism is as follows: When the shaft 137is rocked, the flanged plate 134 will be lifted by the links 135 whichwill move the shuttle upwardly and bring the open'ends of the filledcartridges into engagement with the crim lng tubes 151. The arm 146 willthen Ee forced downwardly by engagement with the shoulder `144 on thearm 143, which will cause the tubes 149 to move downwardly and crimp theends of the cartridges. Further rocking of the shaft 137 will allow thetubes 149 to move upwardly and out of engagement with the crimped endsof the eartrldges. The `shuttle carriage is then removed from thecrimping mechanism. The

fille-d cartridges may then be removed from the shuttle by opening theplates or lids 13 and 14. A shuttle with empty cartridges therein maythen be placed in the carriage 42 and the above operation repeated asoften as desired.

When desired to stop operations, the valves 78 and 85 may be closed bymanually actuating the rod 103 to bring the levers 1 02 and 106 to anupright or neutral position shown in Figs. 1 and 3., If it should befound necessary during the operation of filling cartridges to stop orreverse the movement of the plunger 60, the safety lever 129 Y. may beactuated.

I have in effect developed a mechanical method of filling cartridgeswith an explosive gelatine or similar explosive composition in which thegelatine is forced into the base of the cartridges and causes thecartridges to recede as the gelatine is pressed therein, therebypressing the material in the cartridges without undue pressure as thecarriage 42 carrying the shuttle 10 with the cartridges therein isallowed to move backwardly.

It will be understood that there is a certain resistance to the backwardmovement of this carriage, sufficient to develop the proper packing ofthe explosive. In addition, when the cartridges are filled and theplunger starts on its reverse stroke, a suction is developed in thegelatine in the tubes 57 to withdraw it from the ends of the tubes andthus prevent spilling of the gelatine.

In the cartrldge crimping mechanism the arm 154 is provided with a slotso that the amount of the throw or oscillation ma be governed toincrease or decrease as desired. The arm 136 also has a slot so that theheight to which the filled cartridges are raised may be adjusted to anicety in order that when the cartridges are at theproper position thearm 146 will force the cross head 148 downwardly to crimp the ends-ofthe cartridges without exerting undue pressure on the explosive.

It will be understood that various changes in the detail of constructionmay be made without departing from the spirit or scope of the inventionas defined by the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A machine for packing explosives comprising a frame, a chamberadapted to hold gelatine mountedV on said frame, a plunger in saidchamber, a plurality of tubes projeeting from one end of said chamber, acylinder mounted on said frame, a piston in said cylinder having a rodconnected to said plunger, a carriage on said frame adapted to receive ashuttle holding a plurality of cartridges in registration with the tubescarried by said chamber, and fluid pressure controlling means adapted toadmit fluid under pressure to either end of said cylinder, said carriageadapted to aetuate said fluid pressure controlling means to admit fluidinto the rear end of said cylinder and advance the piston and plunger tofeed the gelatine in said chamber into the cartridges in the shuttlewhen said cartridges are enclosing said tubes, said carriage beingadapted to be moved rearwardly as the cartridge's are being filled andactuate said fluid pressure controlling means to admit iuid underpressure to the forward end of said cylinder and retract said piston andplunger when said cartridges are filled.

2. A machine for packing explosives comprising a chamber adapted to holdgelatine, a plunger within said chamber for feeding the' gelatine fromthe chamber into empty cartridges, and means for controlling themovement; of said plunger by the movement of said cartridges.

3. A machine for packing explosives, comprising in combination a chamberopen at the top, a neck connected thereto through which explosivematerial may be fed to the chamber, a reciprocating plunger operativethrough the chamber and below the neck, tubes through which theexplosive may be extruded by the plunger, a carriage supporting aplurality of cartridges to be filled, said carriage positioning thecartridges over the discharge tubes whereby the mouth of the tubes areadjacent the base of the cartridges, said carriage being supported andmounted whereby on the extrusion of the explosive the carriage recedesafter the cartridges are lled.

4. A machine for filling cartridges, comprising in combination achamber, means to feed gelatine therein, a plunger operative in saidchamber, discharge tubes on the end of the chamber, a. carriagesupporting cartridges to be filled and means to control the movement ofthe plunger in accordance with the feeding movement of the carriage asthe cartridges are filled.

5. A machine for filling cartridges as claimed in claim el, in which afluid motor actuates the plunger and a carriage actuates a valve tocontrol the fluid motor.

6. The method of filling cartridges with an explosive gelatine,comprising forcing gelatine through a stationary tube into the base of acartridge, causing the recession of the cartridge as it is filled untilthe desired amount is inserted, then causing a partial suction on theend of the fixed tube to partially withdraw the gelatine containedtherein.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification.

GUSTAF JOHNSON.

